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McCain in Reno, Nevada May 28, 2008: Obama Needs To See The Facts On The Ground In Iraq. Skip ahead to 1:20

John McCain in a townhall forum today in Reno, Nevada ripped Barack Obama for having ONLY been to Iraq one time two years ago (before the Surge) and for failing in his duties as a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Key Quotes:

• “A little over two years ago he went and he has never seized the opportunity except in a hearing to meet with General Petraeus. This is about leadership and learning.”

• “Why is it that Senator Obama wants to sit down with the president of Iran but has not sat down with General Petraeus…”

Flap wonders if Senator McCain has been reading Jim Geraghty over at National Review who this morning made similar observations.

Is Obama Willing To Meet Ahmadinejad, But Not Petraeus?

Obama has been to Iraq once, in 2006. It was a two-day tour of the country.

I suppose one can argue about the value of seeing the situation on the ground with one’s own eyes, but wouldn’t the architect of a withdrawal want to see some of the circumstances himself? Even if Obama didn’t want to travel with McCain, is it really wise to suggest that a tour of post-surge Iraq is unnecessary? Wouldn’t scheduling a visit defuse criticism like this from Vets for Freedom PAC?

And isn’t Obama vulnerable to the argument that a man who’s pledged to meet unconditionally, one-on-one, face-to-face with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad really ought to meet at least once one-on-one with Gen. David Petraeus?

Barack Obama is too inexperienced in foreign policy to be the President and Commander in Chief. Obama has not served in the military and his military background is limited except a Great Uncle who served in World War II – and Obama got the facts wrong on his service.

Is this someone we can trust to be the leader of the free world, especially in a time of terrorism and war ?